Rotary drilling apparatus.



. C. STEWART.

ARYDRILLING APPARATUS.

ROT

APPLICATION FILED DEG.12,1911.

Patented July 22, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@j JM A. C. STEWART.

ROTARY DRILLNG APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED M0212, In

l 5e Patented July, 22, 1913.

2 sIIEETs-SHBET 2 Egg, 6 z' v I o shaft extending incanta..

. aiv rrrreivr ALFRED C.`STEW.'1.RT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNL.

` ROTARY nRiLLiNe arrana'rus Aordver'to ,transmit the required power andemploy suitable gearing between the shaft and the drilling bit to reducethe speed so that the drilling bit will be driven at the desiredvelocity. By dispensing with the drill tube the great expense thereof iseliminated, the cost of the small'shaft being very much less. Inaddition tothis a great saving in time is effected because wlienthedrill tube- 4is used much time is required in screwing' and unscrewingthe sections of drill tube when removing the drill or replacing the4drill, while with the small shaft the sections thereof may be quicklycoupled or uncou-V pled.

A further object is to lock the gearing for operating the drillingmechanism to the outer casing so that when operating thebit w-ill bemaintained in the same relative position with respect to the casing, afurther object being to provide means for unlocking the drill operatingmechanism when it is desired to raise the drilling mechanism out of thecasing. Both-the locking'and unlocking operation may be performedy fromthe top l of 'the well.

A further object is to provide an expansible bit with means forexpanding or contracting the bit when at the bottom ofthe casing, and toaccomplishthis through the medium of the small operating shaft abovereferred to. J

Referring to the drawings :-F igure 1 is a `vertical longitudinalsection through the lower portion of the casing and through the 1drilling mechanism, showing the parts in position for operation.v Fig. 2is aV view similar to Fig. 1, but showing only the upper portionthereof, and illustrates a different position of the device for lockingthe drilling mechanism to the casing. Fig. 3 :is a ,View similar to Fig.1 showing the bit contracted. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section lonslieoiacauon of Letters Patent. Application sied December 1a7 1911.

semi No.' 665,390.

line af-a4 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged secltion on line #La Fig. 1. F1g. 6 is an enlarged section online all-:rs Fig. 1. Fig. 7

'is a section on line acl-m7 Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section on line S-sFig. 7. v 1 designates the outer casing which is constructed inthe'usual manner but provided ,wilha series of holes 2 formed at the coupling Y The drill operating mechanism consists of a barrel t in thelower end of which is a sleeve 5 which is internally threaded and isscrewed to a .hollowvarbor 6 which is rbtatably mounted in'bearings 7.and 8 which are supported by webs 9 from the barrel t. The upper end ofthearbor 6 `has a iiangel() on which are journaled a pair of idlepinions 11 which mesh with a. driving pinion 12 splined on a drivingshaft 13. The shaft 13 has a relatively small diameter, as shown,

y and passes through the hollow arbor 6, being rotatable and alsoslidabletherein. The pinions 11. also mesh with-an internal gear 14which is secured to the b arrelv 4'.

Formed as part of the sleeve 5I is a bit comprising aconical portion 1 5which has several inserted cutters-16, and a series of radiallyadjustable cuttersl'?. A lutedpoint 18-'is screwed to the conicalportion 15. Each of the cutters 17 has a pin 19 which engages in aslotted scroll 20 which is rotatable above the 'co'nica'l portion 15 andhas a bearing in the sleeve 5. The scroll 20 has two pins 21 on 'eachof-which is jouriialed a pinion 22.` Thel pinions 22 mesh -'with astationary internal gear 23 whichis 1 formed in the sleeve 5 and alsomesh with a pinion 24 which'is arranged concentrically with the'shaft 13and is mounted on a sleeve Fatented July 22, 1915:

25 with sufficient friction 'to be operated A thereby. The sleeve 25 hasa tral hole-27 which is adapted to receive the squared lower end 28 ofshaft 13. `A sleeve 29 is arranged on the lower end of the casing 1 andlhas an inwardly directed flange 30 which projects inwardly'beyond thecasing 1, acting-.as a support for the lower end of the barrel 4. A'series of slots 31 are cut in the flange 30 to permit the passage ofwater which is caused to be circulated down into the casing past thebarrely and out of the bottom.

Near lthe upper end of thebarrel 4 are four radial studs 32, in each ofwhichis slidably mounted a locking pin `33 with a round head 34. Eachpin 33 projects same;

through the wall of the barrel l and is adapted to bcengaged with a holeA Coil spring 35 presses each pin 38 inwardly against a tapering sleeve!36, the upper end ,of the sleeve 3G beingfslidably supported in a neck37on the endof the barrel 4 and its lower end being s lidable in abearing 38 supported by-webs 39 from, the barrel.l A y coil spring 40presses against the upper end 'of 'the sleeve '36 andtends to depressthe The shaft 13 entends through the' sleeve 36j and through a-stufhngboi: on

neck 37. .A collar 42 is rigidly secured to.

`the shaft 13, and when the shaft A1li-is pulled up the collar 442will'lift the sleeve and .permit'the pins 33 to move'inwardly.

43 is a hollow shaft which is coupled to i the shaft 13 and whichextends to the-top of the well. n

- VIn operation -theparts stand' as shownin Fig. 1,the cuttersl 17beinge'xpanded and the-shaft 13 .is driven at a compar'ativelyhigh'speed,say, lfor example, 800` R. P. M.

' The pins engag'ethe reces'ses2 and lock the barrel 'againstlongitudinal" movement l.and again'strotation. ylt. is't`ofbe'noted that,when the parts are in' ,poperatinguposition flange "and lbit 1 5 whichlare attached toit.

As the bit thus rotatest-he'scroll'20 and gearing combining therewithrotatev bodily with the bit But have no operating function at this time.p As the drilling .proceeds the casingislo'wered in wellknown manner, a

water circulation being 4maintained down.

casing and out'through the ,spaces 31.

` When itis V'desired'toY raisethe Vbit the shaft A13 is stopped from'rotation and'is i Y moved farther down so that its squaredend isaengagedin the sleeve 25,.l Rotationofthe shaft 13 then drives pinion 24 and the'latter acting through-pinions 22 'which are in mesh with internal gear23 causes the scroll 2O to be revolved, the pinio'ns 22 having aVplanetary movement, and as the scroll is thus rotated-it acts upon thepins 19 to `move the cutters 17 radially inward. It

should be observed that rotation of the scroll 1s 'effected even thoughythefflange 5 Lisialso' rotating, .because it is only necessary thattherebe a relative4 movement between shaft l3.a.n d flange 5 which hasgearing 23,

and as shaft. 13 revolvesat comparatively the scroll has moved thecutters 17 to their inward positions no breakage can occur if the shaft13 is not stopped from rotatingmit the pinion 2l to turn. After the bithas tinued upward movement 'of shaft .13 lifts sleeve 3G permitting pins33 tobe moved inwardly by springs and disengagelocking -recesses 2,- thepartsthen being inthe position shown in Fig. 2, the bit and all partsfor driving the same may then be lifted up bodily through the casin ,thecollar 42' supporting-the sleeve 36 an the sleeve compressing'the coils.of spring 1(1.int0 contact and thereby positively Vsupporting-'thebarreld. When the Vbit is to be lowered into and they are lowered untilthe lowerfedge lar 2te move away from the sleeve 36ans);

spring-110 sufliciently Vto push'pins"3B-fout;`

'down to engage the pinion -24 andthen V romoved upI intothepositionshown in Figlfl then in position r drilling. YVhat .claim is: cf 1. In a rotary Adrilling apparatus, abit,

casing, and gearing between said `'shaft and bit for driving the bit ata lower speed than theshaftj p p 2. In a .rotary drilling apparatus,ka'bit. cut-ters on the'bit, the well casing,a shaft extending down thewell casing',gearing be- .tween said shaft and'bit for driving Athebitadapted to be engaged. by said shatffor-expanding or Contracting saidcutters.-

3. In a rotary drilling apparatus, a barrel adapted to be lowered downthe well casing, a.v bit revolubly mounted at the lower endA of saidbarrel, a small shafteXt-,endin'g down the well casing int-o sa'idbarrel, andgearing within said barrel between the shaft'and bit fordriving the bit at a slower speed than the shaft. A l

casing, a barrel adapted to be lowered down the well casing, a bitrevolubly mounted at the lower'end o-f said barrel, a small shaftextending down the lwell casing and into said barrel, gearing withinsaid barrel for the well the parts have-this same position to disenga'gethe pinion 24'. The'partsare 4. In a rotary drilling apparatus, the welly at that time-because the sleeve 25 will-per- 'i been contract-edv theshaft 13 is then raised until the collar 42 Vstrikes sleeve 36, andcon-- of the barrel 4 strikes the flange 30 which arrestsv furtherdownward movement Io ffthe g barrel and the shaft 13 is moved still,far-fther downward sufficiently to cause th'col Y permit the latter tovbe'moved down'.l by.,v

ward into engagement with lockingrecesses 2.- The shaft 13 :is thenmoved still `faather r. f tated to operat'ethe scroll 20 'and slide outthe cutters '17 after which the vshaft'livsvcutters on the bit, the wellcasing, ashaft' -I extending -down Afrom the topv of the well jata-lower speedth-an the shaft, and gearing '55 ment, even when ange 5is rotating. When driving said bit at a slower speed than said vhigh.speed l there is always' relative lmoveshaft, and means operated by alongitudinal 1 30'.`

' 6. 'Ine' rotary drilling apparatus, the Well`- fjustzible cutters onsaid bine lthe' bottom ofthe Well easing,

Loeepi movement of Said shaft for looking orfun-` looking saidbarrelfrom saidwell casing.

5. I n a rotary drillingvappara'tus, the Weil. easing, a barrel-adaptedto be lowered dow-ri v the well casing@ bit-reiolubly mounted at thelower lend .of Said barrel, a 'small `shaft extending4 down the Welleasing `and into.

said'burrel, gearingwithin :said barrel for driving-Said bit vat nslower Speed vthan Said. shaft, mea-ns' operated by n. longitudinalemovement of saidl vshft for locking or un-A flocking 'said barrel'front-said well easing,

gadjutzible cutters .on said-bit, andl gearing gadaptedi to be engaged-by longitudinal; .shzl'ft' for` adjustingv Suid i movement of-'s'aidcnsing,fag b'urrel adaptedto bev lowered to :i `bit revolubly n iounted:it the, botto-m of said barrel, :idsinullshaftex- -A'tending downtheWell easing and into said barreh'gearing for adjust-,ing said Cutters',mea-ns for frictionall-y driving said gearing a bit f VShaft. extendingdown the well casing 'and longitudinally movable, Y .to be engaged bylongitudinal movement 'of' the lshaft' for operatively eonne'cting theand means adapted shaft With Osaid `scroll.' l l l,

y 8, 'In combination the Well Ieasing, a bit `tending down `the Well`easing, for detue'hably engaging said therein, adjustable-cutters on thebit, a scroll revolubly Amounted .with respect to the bit,l

lugs [on the euttere engaging' said scroll, gearmgjfordrivingsaid-serolh a shaft exf Suid,` baring. v

9. n combination, the therein, 'zadjustubl'ecutter-s on the bit, frscroll .revolubly mounted withrespeet 'to the bit,

and menne shaft with A wellv easing, a bit* i lugs onithe lcutters'engaging sri-id scroll, pintern'al geur lmeshing with said pinions,y a

.driving pinion meshing with said firstpinlons,V und n'shuftextending-down the'we'll easing, .and means for engaging -said shaftWith Vsaid `driving' pinion'. Y

In.co1nbination.the 'well czising, a Abit therein,adjustable-cutters on-the bit, afs'eroll 'rei'olubly mounted 'with ,respect to. the bit,V

lugs on the euttersen-geging said serollfvpinionsypivoted on Suidscroll, a stationary inions pivoted on' seidseroll, astzttiona'ryrinv-ternul geur meshing lwithnid pinionS, a .driving pinionmeshing with Suid first pin# ions, a shaft extending down the well ens-Y y ing, frietionul means for rotating Said drive* 'l ing pinion undhaving n detachable engagey tuent with ssi id shaft.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hund Vat, Los Angeles,QQtl-i dayol'vNovember, 19,11.

g ALFRED C.

In presence of` Gr. T. I-IACKLEY, GLADYS RUssnLn.

CaliiforninJ this STEWART.

